Vapor additive carburetor attachment



March 23, 1965 A. M, -BALOGH 3,174,472

VAPOR ADDITIVE CARBURETOR ATTACHMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 10, 1961 March 23, 1965 A. M. BALoGH vAPoR ADDITIVE CARBURETOR ATTACHMENT Filed NOV. 10, 1961 om ,Q E NNr @g77/@225710 77L. y p

il? T United States Patent O 3 174,472 VAPOR ADDlTlVE CRBURETQR ATTACHMENT Andrew M. Balogh, Chicago, Ill., assigner to John A. Balogh, as trustee Filed Nov. 16, 1961, Ser. No. 151,585 11 Claims. (Cl. 12S-198) This invention pertains to internal combustion engines and their efficient operation. More specifically it is directed to any internal combustion eng-ine wherein fuels have tendency to form carbonaceous deposits on the interior surfaces. Though specifically directed to gasoline type or automobile engines, it can be readily adapted to diesel engine or other types in which liquid or solid fuels are used.

In the combustion of fuels in internal combustion engines, the fuels in process of burning form various products. Some of these under the conditions of combustion may even decompose to form soot and carbonaceous deposits upon the internal surfaces of the combustion chamber. Consequently these deposits may form on the moving surfaces, valves, walls, etc. These deposits hamper and restrict the free and easy access of the moving parts, prevent proper seating of the valves and are the cause frequently of poor and .inadequate operation of the engine.

Likewise, under the yconditions found in the internal combustion engine firing chambers, the intense heats in combination with high pressures of the explosive forces have a marked tendency to surface harden the said deposits and close their pores. Consequently, many additives, improperly termed as degumming agents for use with gasoline to clean out such carbonaceous deposits, when added to gasoline and dissolved therein, upon vaporization of the gasoline in the carburetor are frequently sucked within the engine confines in the form of droplets that are not effectively disseminated within the combustion chamber. Accordingly these do not penetrate the crusty carbonaceous surfaces and become ineffective.

The tremendous growth of population and increase usage of automobile causes congestion of traic within the city and suburbs. Consequently despite arterials and freeways, the modern cars with high horsepower engines are constantly starting and stopping at various intersections controlled by signals for regulation and safety of traffic. Such stops and starts adversely affect efficient operation of engines and causes unusual wear `and tear. As the result of unusual usage, newly tuned and adjusted engines, after two or three days become unresponsive to the throttle, appear sluggish and in general act as if they were not even tuned. Likewise in addition, engine wear becomes excessive and frequently must be completely overhauled after a few thousands of miles service, whereas they should not have any major overhaul even after several tens of thousands of miles service. The use of degumming agents in the fuel, and detergents in the oils, only add to the complexity. These all differ in composition. They frequently are exposed to conditions or blended with additives within lthe oil or fuel with which they are not compatible. Thus gums are formed within the engine that only add to the problem instead of solving the trouble.

Accordingly it is an object of my invention to provide an attachment for use with carburetors in connection with internal combustion engines, whereby carbon softening reagents are added directly in the form of vapor and do not depend upon the carburetor for vaporization.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved attachment whereby fuel additives can be readily ,vaporized outside the carburetor and piped to the air intake of the engine.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an improved reagent vaporizing mechanism whereby the vapor is given off under constantly uniform pressure and at a uniform rate for best results Within the engine.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved throw away type reagent containing cannister that softens and removes the deposits. The cannister can be readily installed by the service station operator while servicing an automobile.

Another object of my invention is to provide an efiicient, simple means for adding vaporized reagents to irnprove the operating characteristics of the internal combustion engine, overcome stickiness of valves, and increase the overall operativeness, efiiciently with a decrease in the consumption of fuel.

Another but not final object of my invention is to provide a device for uniformly adding reagents to the engine in such quantities as required by the engine speed to reduce stickiness of valves, remove the carbonaceous deposits while the engine is in use, provide brilliant pickup performance, and greatly increase the life of the engine while decreasing very substantially major overhaul and stop and start difiiculties.

These and other objects, variations, adaptations and modifications will be readily apparent to those skilled in this art particularly in view of the clear, definitive and conci-se description given hereinbelow and further disclosed in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification.

Accordingly,

FIGURE l is an overall partly broken away perspective view of the combination of elements forming my invention.

FIGURE 2 is a partially broken away vertical section of the cannister, the container therefor and the vapor communication channel.

FIGURE 3 is a vertical section of the carburetor adaptor which fits within the carburetor retainer.

hllIGURE 4 shows in section the adaptor in position, w 1e FIG. 5 shows in perspective the improved carburetor attachment with its vapor generator attached to the hot water jacket of the internal combustion eng-ine.

It should be noted that in the accompanying drawings certain numerals are employed therein to designate the elements illustrated thereof and these same characters are employed herein to designate the same for sake of convenience and clarity.

Essentially my invention comprises three sections comprising (A) the vapor generator, (B) the vapor conductor or conduit and (C) the vapor diffusion adaptor.

The vapor generator (A) in its preferred modification comprises a container or cannister t1 havin-g a cover or llid 5 Iretained in fitting engagement by such lmeans as a snap over spring retainer clamp 7. Located preferably centrally on the said lid 5 is a pipe elbow 8 which is preferably brazed or otherwise securely joined thereto to provide a gas or vapor tight connection Ifor the vapor conductor or conduit (B). It should be noted, that other means can beused to securely fasten the cannister and the lid together, all of which are 'well know to those skilled in the art of can making. It is, however, quite important that the junction be positive, lea-k proof yand sturdy to prevent explosion `of the cannister under actual use conditions.

Located within the cannister o-r case 1 is the vapor generator 2. This preferably is cylindrical in shape and concent-rically located within the said case so that the vent orifice -6 is preferably in coaxial alignment ywith the entry to the tubing elbow 8. The vent orifice 6 is preferably perforated or otherwise formaniously provided with openings to facilitate ready egress for any vapors that may be formed within the generator lbody 2. The vapor generator body 2 may be made of any suitable material such as sturdy tinplate or materials compatible with the reagents stored ytherein and having sufficient strength to prevent bursting even under the relatively high pressures that may be created during the vaporization of the said reagents.

For convenience in the shipment and storage of the reagents that are present in Athe vaporizer 2, there is provided, as illustrated, a screw type spout -16 over which can be used the conventional screw type cap to confine the liquids that may be present in the cannister. However obviously any type of a closure may be employed to accomplish the same purpose. To provide .a tight fit of the lip of the spout with the exit of the cannister body 1, I can if necessary, provide a spring, preferably of the helical type in the bottom of the cannister so that it will exert an upward force upon the bottom of the reagent vapor generator 2 and maintain a tight fit to the cannister spout outlet. Such a spring arrangement is ladapted to retain the spout in juxtaposition with the opening 17 to lthe pipeline connector or elbow 8 in the illustration by which the vapor as it is `formed 'within the vapor generator can move to the adaptor (C) through the tubingltl.

The internal construction of the vapor forming generator 2 comprises a liquid absorbent material 3 such as an organic sponge or an inorganic type, either natural or artificial, which is reticulated Ito a very high degree as to expose a maximum of absorbent area. If desired I may use foamed plastics such as foamed urethane, cement-like compositions and the like. However, for economy as Iwell as dependability I use natu-ral sponge bits of material which provide large surface areas, act as reservoirs and still have a wick-like action to bring nister 2. Thus the vapor forming reagents have a large surface exposure that is constantly replenished as the reagents evaporate from the surfaces of `the lbits of natural sponge material 3. In addition sloshing and spilling over of reagent into the carburetor pipeline is prevented when the vapor generator is filled with such material.

To provide a more efficient distribution of the reagent, better exposure to the heat and to prevent segregation of the sponge-like material within the generator there are provided one or more separating foraminous flights or levels 4. These not only act as supports `for the hits of sponge but also prevent compaction while the uppermost level retains Ithe bits of sponge lfrom jostling into the pipeline (B). In practice, these are retained in position by the upturned peripheral wall or edge 4-A of the screen 4 abutting against the interior side of the body wall 2. However, obviously this can be done in other ways all well known to those skilled in this art.

The vapor conduit or pipeline (B) may comprise any tubular structure, preferably of a flexible nature, and made of a material compatible with the nature of the properties of the vaporized reagents. Though metallic tubing is preferred, I may utilize plastic tubing capable of withstanding the temperatures under which the tubing will be used and which also is not effected by the solvent nature of the vapors. I find `that coppe-r tubing of the thin wall type is excellent for this purpose and can be readily joined by suitable fittings. However, for reasons of simplicity, one type is illustrated, i.e., a plastic tubing. The ends thereof are shown as secured toand fastened by clamps 9 to the elbow 8 and the entry fitting 11 on the adaptor 12 respectively. Though not shown, it is desirable that the cannister 1 be mounted upon a suitable bracket adjacent some heat radiating body such -as the exhaust manifolds or surrounded by hot water, which promotes the vaporization of any reagent additives within the cannister 1.

The adaptor 9 comprises in its preferred form an annulus preferably or a ring-like shape member 12, which is substantially #shaped in cross section. The inner wall 18 of the inside rim has formed thereon a series of openings 1S which are in communication with the chamber 21 that is for-med by the enclosure 13. This enclosure member 13 lis substantially L-shaped in section with its shonter leg 20 in contacting engagement with the upright wall 19 of the said ring-shaped J-mernber 12. The two are maintained in a retaining relationship by any conventional means such as a press fit, brazing, spot weld etc. The longer leg 22 of said enclosure 13 acts as a base for the air cleaner housing 23. The latter is held firmly in position by the screw 23 and the wing nut 25. Thus the adaptor (C) is fixedly retained between the air filter housing 23 and the carburetor 26.

In operation, the reagents employed have a relatively low vapor pressure or tension and evaporate quite readily. These generally comprise a mixture of different aliphatic and aromatic compounds that have differing rates of evaporation so that a steady stream of vapor is produced during a wide range of operating temperatures to achieve the desired effect. Additives such as tricresylphthalate or one of its modications may also be used as an additive. Upon evaporation, the vapor finds its way to the spout 16, and since it is given oh slowly from the intersticial areas of the bits of sponge, there is supplied a constant and uniform stream of such vapor. This vapor is gradually sucked through the aspirating action of the air as it is being supplied to the carburator by the air cleaner. As more speed is developed and more air is utilized by the carburetor more vapor is also aspirated, all in accord with the needs of the engine.

Though the additive is combustible yet because of its inherent nature and manner of application in the form of vapor, it acts as a surface penetrant on any carbonaceous material and deposits within the cylinder head and on the top of the pistons. Accordingly, the penetrant under the action of the heat formed during the combustion eventually expands very rapidly beneath the carbonaceous films. With rapid acceleration of the engine and fast driving it frequently disintegrates the deposits into tiny bits of soot that are blown out through the muffler or exhaust.

Clearly many modifications of the fundamental elements underlying my invention can be readily devised by any one skilled in this art and yet I wish to claim all those modifications that come within the spirit of the claims as defined hereinbelow.

I claim:

1. In combination with an internal combustion engine having an air intake and a heat emitting component, a vapor generator containing an additive in juxtaposition with the said heat emitting component to promote vaporization of the additive, the said vapor generator having a single port therein, the said port constituting a delivery means for conducting the generated vapors from said generator, an aspirator in juxtaposition with said air intake and a means to conduct the generated vapors from the said port to the said aspirator whereby the said additive is introduced into the air and fuel stream of the said eng 2. In combination with an internal combustion engine having an air intake and a heat emitting component, an attachment for feeding directly a vapor additive, the said attachment comprising a container mounted adjacent said heat emitting component, a vapor generator containing an additive within the said container, the said vapor generator having a single port therein, an aspirator mounted in juxaposition with the said air intake, a means to deliver the vapors from said vapor generator port and container to said aspirator whereby the said vaporized additive is introduced into the air and fuel stream of the said engine.

3. In the combination of claim 2 wherein the said vapor generator is mounted concentrically within the said container.

4, In the combination of claim l wherein the said vapor generator comprises a cellular filler capable of preventing the sloshing of liquids within the said vapor generator, which is characterized by gradual delivery of the absorbed liquids to the said means for conducting vapor in the form of vapor.

5. In the combination of claim 4 wherein the said iiller constitutes bits of cellular sponge material.

6. In the combination of Claim 1 wherein the said generator has foraminous dividers disposed therein at preselected levels.

7. in the combination of claim 1 wherein the said aspirator comprises essentially a tubular member having perforations therein, the said perforations exposed to the direct action of the engine intake air stream.

8. In the combination of claim 7, said aspirator comprising an elongated enclosure reversely returning to its origin in the same plane, perforations on the inner sur* face of said enclosure in facing relationship to each other to permit the escape of vapors formed within the generator and a means adapted to retain the said enclosure between the air intake to the said engine and the said engine.

9. The device of claim 1 further comprising a means on said aspirator to control the discharge of said vapor.

10. In the apparatus ot claim 9 wherein the said generator comprises a generator container and an insertable cannister concentrically fitted within said container, the said cannister being disposable after exhaustion.

11. In the apparatus of claim 9 wherein the said aspirator comprises at least two members, the lower of said members being substantially J-shaped in cross'section, the upper or overlying member being substantially L- shaped in cross section, the lower edge of the said L- shaped member being in contacting juxtaposition with the rim of the lower leg of the said J-shaped member, and a means between said contacting surfaces to permit egress of Vapor.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,280,642 Benjamin Oct. 8, 1918 1,818,240 Morrell Aug. 11, 1931 1,925,971 Simon Sept. 5, 1933 1,978,702 Duncan Oct. 30, 1934 2,064,561 OSullivan Dec. 15, 1936 2,182,874 Kowalski Dec. 12, 1939 2,213,132 Ackerman Aug. 27, 1940 2,277,749 Eckel et al. Mar. 31, 1942 2,319,971 Bodine May 25, 1943 2,445,479 Francis July 20, 1948 2,518,082 Shively Aug. 8, 1950 2,645,570 Anderson July 14, 1953 2,659,667 Bosdet Nov. 17, 1953 2,695,680 Lundy Nov. 30, 1954 2,851,027 Kivela Sept. 9, 1958 3,038,454 Hundere June 12, 1962 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE HAVING AN AIR INTAKE AND A HEAT EMITTING COMPONENT, A VAPOR GENERATOR CONTAINING AN ADDITIVE IN JUXTAPOSITION WITH THE SAID HEAT EMITTING COMPONENT TO PROMOTE VAPORIZATION OF THE ADDITIVE, THE SAID VAPOR GENERATOR HAVING A SINGLE PORT THEREIN, THE SAID PORT CONSTITUTING A DELIVERY MEANS FOR CONDUCTING THE GENERATED VAPORS FROM SAID GENERATOR, AN ASPIRATOR IN JUXTAPOSITION WITH SAID AIR INTAKE AND A MEANS TO CONDUCT THE GENERATED VAPORS FROM THE SAID PORT TO THE SAID ASPIRATOR WHEREBY THE SAID ADDITIVE IS INTRODUCED INTO THE AIR AND FUEL STREAM OF THE SAID ENGINE. 